The late Kilmartin, revered at both clubs and affectionately known as ‘Killa’, skippered both the red and gold and red, white and blue, before his sudden passing in 2015.
Kilmartin also held presidency at Tatura, and was given life membership at the club in 2014.
A legacy that has shaped both teams, Kilmartin oversaw the relocation of the home of Tatura from Tatura Park to the Howley Oval precinct and its move to the Cricket Shepparton league, while also “straightening out the club culture” of Karramomus, which would win its second ever A-grade flag the season after Kilmartin departed back to his blue roots.
The pair of clubs get up and about for the clash each year, and hence the ‘Killa Cup’ has been known to deliver killer games too.
Last year, a target of just 94 delivered a thrilling run chase, with Tatura escaping a genuine fright by two wickets in one of the tensest finishes to a match last summer.
Tatura has won the last four shield fixtures on the trot, but irregularly in convincing fashion, with 2023-24’s win also by two wickets, 2022-23’s by 41 runs and 2021-22 by three wickets.
Ahead of Saturday’s fixture though, with the ledger six to three in Tatura’s favour, not once has the pair of club’s had equally strong starts to the summer.
Tatura and Karramomus are both two and zip to start the 2025-26 Haisman Shield campaign, with the latter coming off the back of a T20 title prior to the one-day and two-day season.
It presents as a ‘Killa Cup’ classic, and the players are aware of the significance.
“Both two sides are always full of youth and have got some really good talent, so when they meet on the field, it's a really, really good battle,“ Karramomus coach Nathan Jones said.
“When I first sort of stepped into this role, I wanted to win the first three or four (games) this year, so this is all part of the process.
“Obviously, the shield coming back to Karra would be nice, but we’ve still got a little bit of work to do before we get that.
“But perfect start, we've got some good momentum, and the boys are up and about.“
Tatura captain Jayden Armstrong echoed the same sentiment.
“Both sides will want to play finals at the end of the year, so we're probably fighting for the last couple spots in that finals equation,” Armstrong said.
“Games like these are nearly worth double, when we're both off to a strong start.
“We're both on the rise, which is exciting.”
Armstrong’s shared enthusiasm for the Bloods’ on-field growth is representative of the camaraderie that has developed between the clubs since the ‘Killa Cup’ began.
Although the Tatura captain referred to the game being “worth double” in a different sense, it rings true for the annual fixture as a whole.
For many players, coaches, and supporters on Saturday, a cold one and yarn with the opposition after a day in the field is what’s looked forward to more than the match itself, to celebrate Kilmartin’s legacy and the success both clubs had found under his guidance.
“Since this has started, we (Tatura and Karramomus) have probably been in a similar position, and we've both had young groups, so once this started we became really close off the field,” Armstrong said.
“The games have always been really tight on the field, but while we're celebrating it for Killa, we've become a lot closer on and off the field.
“It's nearly the first game we look forward to each year; the fixtures come out and we look when we're playing Karra for the Killa Shield because it's so exciting.
“It's always a great game of cricket, but once the game's done, it's to celebrate Killa and what he's done for both sides, and we really enjoy that part as well.”
Jones, who admits he’s “50-50” to play battling a hamstring injury, still reassured he’ll be down at the game to join in the post-game tradition.
It depicts that the Rod Kilmartin Shield is about more than just the game, and reflects the sportsmanship and spirit of cricket that other sporting codes envy.
“He was a really good person to be around and it’s a great day for each club,” Armstrong said.
The first ball bowled of the tenth ‘Killa Cup’ will land on the pitch at 11.30am on Saturday, at VE Vibert Reserve, Shepparton.
